diff --git a/filmatyk/updater.py b/filmatyk/updater.py
index 2f1e30f..4584b2f 100644
--- a/filmatyk/updater.py
+++ b/filmatyk/updater.py
@@ -72,7 +72,8 @@ def checkUpdates(self):
     self.__checkThread()
   def __checkThread(self):
     if self.checked_flag:
-      # thread has finished - do something with the results
+      # thread has finished - clean up and do something with the results
+      self.thread.join()
       if self.update_available:
         doUpdate = messagebox.askyesno(self.update_ready_string, self.update_question_string)
         if doUpdate: